Material handling machine



April 9, 1963 J. J. BEcKFoRD MATERIAL HANDLING MAQHINE` 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 25, 1960 INVENTOR.

JAMES J.BECKFORD BY Mfg/ML,

' ATTORNEY April 9, 1963 J. J. Br-:cKFoRD MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 23, 1960 FIG. 4

39 FIG. 3

- INVENToR.` JAMES J.BECKFO RD BY Aj ATTORNEY April 9, 1963 J. J. Bl-:cKFoRD 3,084,451

MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2s, 1960 4 sheets-sheet s FIG. 5

INVENTOR.

JAMES J,BECKFORD uA/U ATTORNEY April 9, 1963 .1..1 BECKFORD 3,084,461

MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 23, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 9

INVENTOR. JAMES J. BECKFORD ATTORNEY- inited States Patent G 3,034,461 MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE .lames J. Beckford, Salt Lake City, Utah, assignor to The Eimco Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 71,263 3 Claims. (Cl. 37 144) This invention relates to earth moving vehicles and in particular to tractors equipped with a dozer blade.

It is a primary object ot' the invention to provide a tractor-mounted blade which can be raised, angled in a horizontal plane, and tilted from the horizontal.

It is a further object to provide a structure of the type described in which the blade tilting encompasses a wide range from the horizontal thereby enabling deep digging.

It is a further object to provide a structure in which the blade, despite its angled or tilted position may be acted upon by a direct downward force for digging.

It is a further object to provide a structure capable of exerting maximum force on the blade regardless of its position relative to the ground; and it is an important further object to locate the blade-moving power sources in a particular manner whereby maximum forces may be applied.

In apparatus of the type under discussion, the application of down thrust is extremely important; and it is a specic object of the invention to provide a structure in which the motors for raising and lowering the blade are positioned to enable direct application of force. This is of particular significance with respect to the positive downthrust required to plow with a tilted blade.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and carried into effect, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and the description thereof which are offered by way of illustration only and not in limitation since the scope of the invention is dened by the appended claims and their conjointly co-operative equivalents rather than by any description preceding them.

In the drawings: l

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a tractor embodying the invention, dotted lines being employed to show various positions of the blade.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the tractor of FIG. l, dotted lines showing various positions of the blade and certain parts being omitted or cut away for purposes of clarity.

FIG. 3 is a partial top view of a bifurcated frame by which the blade attachment is mounted on the tractor.

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the plane of line 4 4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the blade support frame and blade of the invention and may be regarded as being taken in the plane of line 5 5 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a view taken inthe plane of lines 6 6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an end View of the blade and support frame take inthe plane of line 7 7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 8 8 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a bearing assembly employed in the invention.

In the embodiment illustrated, the invention is shown mounted on a suitable track type tractor, generally designated 34), by means of a forwardly extending C frame member 31 that has its legs pivotally mounted, as at 32, to the tractor sides to enable raising and lowering of the frame member and attached structure.

Raising and lowering of the frame is accomplished by hydraulic motor means which are provided in 4the form of double acting cylinder and piston assemblies 33 pivotally secured at their upper ends 34 to a vert-ical frame Mice riser 36 and at their lower ends 37 to the top of C frame 31, at a point forward of the pivot 32, by means of a suitable bearing mount 38.

It will be noted that the motor assemblies 33 are mounted to be substantially vertical in the neutral position (FIG. l). This is important because it insures direct application of maximum power to the frame and blade attachment during operation.

Attached to the forward bracket 39 of the C frame is a blade support frame or plate 41 which is pivotally attached for angling by means of cooperating bracket members 42 and pin 43, the latter forming an axis about which the frame is rotationally moved for angling. For purposes of simplifying the description and claims this axis is sometimes referred to as a first or vertical axis.

A bearing support block 44 is mounted on the rear of the blade support frame 41 adjacent the bottom edge and substantially centered between opposite frame ends. This bearing block 44 serves as the center or pivot point for a dozer blade 46 mounted on the support frame 41.

Opposite ends of support frame 41 are provided with arcuate terminal edges 47 which are yformed to substantially coincide with an arc described using bearing block 44 as a center.

The dozer blade 46, which may be of conventional construction and equipped with a suitable cutting edge 45, is pivotally mounted on the forward side of support frame 41 by means of stub shaft 48 permanently fixed to the blade, as by welding, at a point midway between the blade ends and substantially below its horizontal center line adjacent the bottom edge of the blade. The stub shaft extends rearwardly from the blade longitudinally of the frame 31 and is received in a spherical or self aligning type bearing 49, being secured therein against relative movement by a pressed on tit and secured axially by an end plate 51 in turn fastened to the shaft by cap screws 52.

Bearing 49 is journalled in cooperating bearing block 53 which is received and secured in the bearing support block 44 on the support frame 41. The cooperating bearing block 53 and inner member 49 are held in place by a retainer such as washer 54 and screws 55.

The above described shaft and bearing structure provides the pivot point for tilting of the blade, and yfor simplification is sometimes referred to herein as the second or horizontal axis. In order to support the blade there is provided a pair of spaced apart arcuate guide members 56 which overlap the arcuate end edges 47 of the support Iframe and extend over a major portion of the blade height to provide maximum support over the entire range of tilt.

Blade tilting is accomplished by means of a doubleacting piston and cylinder motor assembly 57 an end 58 of which is journalled in a self-aligning bearing 59 in a bracket 61 adjacent the top of the support frame 41; and the other end 62 of which is similarly journalled in a second bracket 63 mounted adjacent the top of the blade.

The two brackets 61` and 63 are spaced on opposite sides of the center pivot in block 44 and act to tilt the blade about such pivot while the support frame remains fixed relative to the C frame.

Angling of the support frame 41 and attached blade 46 about vthe vertical pivot pin 43y (FIG. 5) is accomplished by motors 64 (shown as double acting piston-cylinder assemblies), mounted on opposite -legs of the C frame. `Positioning of these Imotors 64 with respect to both the ,C frame 31 and the blade support frame 41 is important Ifor proper operation. In this connection, it will be particularly noted that the motors are mounted below the top of the "C frame and also connect to the support frame 41 Iat a low point; and that the motors are substantially in line between the cutting edge 45 of the blade and the ,blade support frame 41 `(cf. FIG. l). .sembly comprises a shaft 70 extending between spaced 3 pivot point 32 at which the C `frame is mounted to the tractor.

Mounting the motors below the C frame permits connection of the Vertical motors 33 directly to the top of the `C frame thereby enabling maximum application of force thereto with minimum structural components yet utilizes maximum strength of the members.

In the embodiment shown, the angling motors `64 are secured at the piston end I66 to the `C frame by a selfaligning bearing 67 mounted in a recess formed in the bottom of the -C frame. The opposite, or cylinder ends 68, of the motors connect to the support frame 41 through similar bearing assemblies 69 mounted in brackets 71 adjacent opposite ends yof lthe support frame. This is an important feature as it protects the piston rod by insulating it against the dirt and debris to which the piston rod would be subjected if it connected to the support frame 41 adjacent the blade.

Itis important ythe motors 64 apply force to a low point .on the support frame 41 to avoid warping of the struc- ,ture when operating with the blade in a tilted position.

Thus, the brackets 71 are mounted on the support frame at a location below the center line thereof and preferably near the horizontal plane of the second or horizontal center pivot point about which the blade rotates on tilting. This insures application of power as closely as possible to the point of greatest resistance and gives positive support against warping ofthe support frame and blade when plowing furrows tor ditches with the blade at an extreme tilt position. Location of the horizontal pivot shaft 48 to provide a -low center of rotation below the pivotal connection 43 of the support frame 41 to the C frame 31, is also important for reasons of strength and also enables a greater tilt to maximize the depth of digging with the blade corners.

As is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the blade is movable through a wide range of positions as to both angle and tilt or any combination thereof.

Obviously, the tractor may be driven and controlled in any suitable well known manner. Also the various double acting motors employed for blade control may be powered in well yknown fashion as by pressure fluid supplied through a distribution center 75 connected to, motors 57 and 64 from a suitable valve and hydraulic pump not shown, and suitable controls, such as 76. The lift motor 33y may be similarly controlled.

In order to provide greatest flexibility and minimize binding, all bearings by which motors 33, 57 and 64 are connected to the structure should be of the` self-aligning or spherical type as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. y9 is an enlarged sectional view of the spherical bearing 69 by which the cylinder 68 is connected to the Such bearing asapart brackets 71., a partial spherical memberY 49 pressed on the shaft Iand a retainer `or bearing block 53 locked vin the eyepiece 77 of the cylinder end by suitable retainers 78.

1. A material handling machine comprising. a vehicle, a bifurcated first `frame member having its legs pivotally mounted one Von each side of said vehicle and extending forwardly thereof, .a second frame member adapted to be mounted transversely of said first frame member adiacent the forward end thereof, means pivotally mounting said second frame member to` said first frame member to enable rotational movement of the former about a first axis extending from top to bottom of said first `frame member; an attachment for material handling, second means mounting said attachment to said second frame member for rotational movement therewith about Asaid first axis and for independent rotational movement about a second axis substantially normal to said first axis, said second means including pivotal mounting means interconnecting said attachment and said second frame vmember at locations below their respective center lines and below said means pivotally mounting said second frame member to said first frame member, a first pair of arcuate guide members lformed across substantially the entire opposite ends of said second frame member and a second pair of arcuate guide members located adjacent opposite ends of said attachment extending substantially from top to bottom thereof and being engageable with said first pair of arcuate guide members; and separate means enabling independent raising and lowering of said first frame member, rotation of said second frame member about said first axis and of said attachment about isaid second axis, said separate means including first motor means interconnecting said vehicle and said first frame and actuatable to raise and lower said frame, second motor means interconnecting said second frame member and said attachment and actuatable to effect rotational movement of said attachment about said second axis, and third motor means interconnecting said first frame and said second frame to efiect rotational movement of the latter about said first axis.

2. A material handling machine according to preceding claim 1 in which said first motor means comprises a pair of hydraulically actuated piston and cylinder assemblies each connected at one end to a leg of said first frame member and at the other end to said Ivehicle at a location forward of and substantially above the pivotal connec- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES'PATENTS 1,991,781 Birdr Feb. 19, 1935 2,334,374 Austin Nov. 16, 1943 2,681,518 Troop June 22, 1954 2,687,586 Dickinson Aug. 31, 1954 2,749,630 Nave June 12, 1956 2,753,638 Monk July 10, 1956 2,943,407 Long July 5, 1960 2,950,550 French Aug. 30, 1960 

1. A MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE COMPRISING A VEHICLE, A BIFURCATED FIRST FRAME MEMBER HAVING ITS LEGS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ONE ON EACH SIDE OF SAID VEHICLE AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY THEREOF, A SECOND FRAME MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER ADJACENT THE FORWARD END THEREOF, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID SECOND FRAME MEMBER TO SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER TO ENABLE ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE FORMER ABOUT A FIRST AXIS EXTENDING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OF SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER; AN ATTACHMENT FOR MATERIAL HANDLING, SECOND MEANS MOUNTING SAID ATTACHMENT TO SAID SECOND FRAME MEMBER FOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT THEREWITH ABOUT SAID FIRST AXIS AND FOR INDEPENDENT ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A SECOND AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID FIRST AXIS, SAID SECOND MEANS INCLUDING PIVOTAL MOUNTING MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID ATTACHMENT AND SAID SECOND FRAME MEMBER AT LOCATIONS BELOW THEIR RESPECTIVE CENTER LINES AND BELOW SAID MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID SECOND FAME MEMBER TO SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER, A FIRST PAIR OF ARCUATE GUIDE MEMBERS FORMED ACROSS SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SECOND FRAME MEMBER AND A SECOND PAIR OF ARCUATE GUIDE MEMBERS LOCATED ADJACENT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID ATTACHMENT EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY FROM TOP TO BOTTOM THEREOF AND BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FIRST PAIR OF ARCUATE GUIDE MEMBERS; AND SEPARATE MEANS ENABLING INDEPENDENT RAISING AND LOWERING OF SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER, ROTATION OF SAID SECOND FRAME MEMBER ABOUT SAID FIRST AXIS AND OF SAID ATTACHMENT ABOUT SAID SECOND AXIS, SAID SEPARATE MEANS INCLUDING FIRST MOTOR MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID VEHICLE AND SAID FIRST FRAME AND ACTUATABLE TO RAISE AND LOWER SAID FRAME, SECOND MOTOR MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID SECOND FRAME MEMBER AND SAID ATTACHMENT AND ACTUATABLE TO EFFECT ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ATTACHMENT ABOUT SAID SECOND AXIS, AND THIRD MOTOR MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID FIRST FRAME AND SAID SECOND FRAME TO EFFECT ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER ABOUT SAID FIRST AXIS. 